Missouri Attorney General, Andrew
Bailey, is demanding documents and information from Grain Belt Express,
claiming the utility behind the green energy transmission line might have
misled the Missouri Public Service Commission.

Bailey says his office is moving to
stop Grain Belt Express from constructing its line across north-central
Missouri.

“I am dead set against foreign
corporations abusing eminent domain when there’s no benefit to the people of
the state of Missouri,” Bailey tells KFEQmmunity in a guest appearance.

Bailey claims Invenergy has
considerable foreign backing. The Attorney General says Invenergy either
presented speculative evidence to the PSC that shouldn’t have been used.

“Or, a fraud was perpetrated on the
people of the state of Missouri,” Bailey asserts, “But at the end of the day,
we’re going to get to the bottom of it and hold any wrongdoers accountable.”

Bailey has issued a Civil
Investigative Demand to Grain Belt Express, which demands documentation from
Invenergy.

“Well, we certainly need to understand
the evidence that they used when estimating the job-creation numbers that they
presented to the Public Service Commission and the public,” Bailey says. “We
want to know why they estimate that they’re going to reduce energy costs for
Missouri.”

The action is being taken under the
Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, which prohibits false promises, fraud,
and overall deceptive business practices.

Bailey says the proposal to send
wind-generated energy from Kansas through Missouri to the East Coast won’t
benefit Missouri, but will burden Missouri landowners. 

“I reject the notion that eminent domain
can be used for purely corporate interests that don’t serve Missourians,”
Bailey says. “That coastal elites, coming in to take farmland in Missouri,
destroy family livelihoods and legacies, to pad the pockets of coastal elites.
That’s not good for Missouri. I reject that that should ever be allowed under
our laws.”

Bailey also has written the PSC, urging
the commission to reevaluate its decision to approve the Grain Belt Express. The
letter points out Invenergy made reference to a potential carbon tax that has
not been approved on either the state or federal level.

“Because, again, I think one of two
things happen:&nbsp; either the PSC relied on
bad information or Grain Belt lied, and either way that Certificate of
Convenience and Necessity should have never (been) issued, because they can’t
demonstrate a benefit for Missourians and they based everything on faulty
assumptions,” according to Bailey.

This latest action against the Grain Belt
Express might be coming late in the game.

“This project was underway before I took
office and so, we’re running to catch up with the train, but certainly we feel that
we have a strong case to make.”

In a separate action, U.S. Sen. Josh
Hawley has written Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, asking him to cancel the $4.9
billion loan that Invenergy secured during the Biden Administration.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri Attorney General, Andrew
Bailey, is demanding documents and information from Grain Belt Express,
claiming the utility behind the green energy transmission line might have
misled the Missouri Public Service Commission.Bailey says his office is moving to
stop Grain Belt Express from constructing its line across north-central
Missouri.“I am dead set against foreign
corporations abusing eminent domain when there’s no benefit to the people of
the state of Missouri,” Bailey tells KFEQmmunity in a guest appearance.Bailey claims Invenergy has
considerable foreign backing. The Attorney General says Invenergy either
presented speculative evidence to the PSC that shouldn’t have been used.“Or, a fraud was perpetrated on the
people of the state of Missouri,” Bailey asserts, “But at the end of the day,
we’re going to get to the bottom of it and hold any wrongdoers accountable.”Bailey has issued a Civil
Investigative Demand to Grain Belt Express, which demands documentation from
Invenergy.“Well, we certainly need to understand
the evidence that they used when estimating the job-creation numbers that they
presented to the Public Service Commission and the public,” Bailey says. “We
want to know why they estimate that they’re going to reduce energy costs for
Missouri.”The action is being taken under the
Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, which prohibits false promises, fraud,
and overall deceptive business practices.Bailey says the proposal to send
wind-generated energy from Kansas through Missouri to the East Coast won’t
benefit Missouri, but will burden Missouri landowners. “I reject the notion that eminent domain
can be used for purely corporate interests that don’t serve Missourians,”
Bailey says. “That coastal elites, coming in to take farmland in Missouri,
destroy family livelihoods and legacies, to pad the pockets of coastal elites.
That’s not good for Missouri. I reject that that should ever be allowed under
our laws.”Bailey also has written the PSC, urging
the commission to reevaluate its decision to approve the Grain Belt Express. The
letter points out Invenergy made reference to a potential carbon tax that has
not been approved on either the state or federal level.“Because, again, I think one of two
things happen:&nbsp; either the PSC relied on
bad information or Grain Belt lied, and either way that Certificate of
Convenience and Necessity should have never (been) issued, because they can’t
demonstrate a benefit for Missourians and they based everything on faulty
assumptions,” according to Bailey.This latest action against the Grain Belt
Express might be coming late in the game.“This project was underway before I took
office and so, we’re running to catch up with the train, but certainly we feel that
we have a strong case to make.”In a separate action, U.S. Sen. Josh
Hawley has written Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, asking him to cancel the $4.9
billion loan that Invenergy secured during the Biden Administration.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

AG Bailey takes aim at Grain Belt Express; filing legal action

ANDREW COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Sunday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Honda Crosstour driven by a 51-year-old Utica, Nebraska man was southbound on Business 71 one quarter mile south of Country Club.

The driver entered the median cross over to make a turn onto northbound Interstate 29. The driver failed to yield.&nbsp; &nbsp;A southbound 2010 Ford Focus driven by a 21-year-old Savannah, Missouri, woman struck the front passenger side door of the Honda. After impact, the Honda rolled off the road.

Andrew County EMS transported the driver of the Honda and a 49-year-old female passenger from Utica, Nebraska, to Mosaic Life Care. The Ford driver was not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

ANDREW COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Sunday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Honda Crosstour driven by a 51-year-old Utica, Nebraska man was southbound on Business 71 one quarter mile south of Country Club.The driver entered the median cross over to make a turn onto northbound Interstate 29. The driver failed to yield.&nbsp; &nbsp;A southbound 2010 Ford Focus driven by a 21-year-old Savannah, Missouri, woman struck the front passenger side door of the Honda. After impact, the Honda rolled off the road.Andrew County EMS transported the driver of the Honda and a 49-year-old female passenger from Utica, Nebraska, to Mosaic Life Care. The Ford driver was not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Couple hospitalized in St. Joe after 2-vehicle crash

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 9a.m. Sunday in Clinton County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Harley Davidson driven by a 41-year-old St. Joseph woman was making a left turn from eastbound Route Z onto U.S. 169 two miles north of Trimble. The driver applied the brakes to avoid another vehicle. The motorcycle began to skid and the driver lost control. The motorcycle overturned and the driver was ejected.

A private vehicle transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. She was wearing helmet, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 9a.m. Sunday in Clinton County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Harley Davidson driven by a 41-year-old St. Joseph woman was making a left turn from eastbound Route Z onto U.S. 169 two miles north of Trimble. The driver applied the brakes to avoid another vehicle. The motorcycle began to skid and the driver lost control. The motorcycle overturned and the driver was ejected.A private vehicle transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. She was wearing helmet, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.US169 AT RT-Z, 2 MILES NORTH OF TRIMBLE

St. Joseph woman injured in motorcycle accident

HARRISON COUNTY —A woman died in a pedestrian accident just before 11:30p.m. Saturday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 71-year-old Santee, California woman was walking in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 136 just west of Interstate 35 in Bethany.&nbsp; &nbsp;The pedestrian walked into the path of a 2019 Lincoln MKT driven by a 61-year-old Bethany man.

The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene and was transported to Roberson Funeral Home. The driver was properly restrained and not injured, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

HARRISON COUNTY —A woman died in a pedestrian accident just before 11:30p.m. Saturday in Harrison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 71-year-old Santee, California woman was walking in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 136 just west of Interstate 35 in Bethany.&nbsp; &nbsp;The pedestrian walked into the path of a 2019 Lincoln MKT driven by a 61-year-old Bethany man.The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene and was transported to Roberson Funeral Home. The driver was properly restrained and not injured, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Woman killed in Missouri pedestrian accident

DAVIESS COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 11:30a.m. Saturday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Toyota Camry driven by a 41-year-old Gallatin woman was westbound on MO 6 one mile east of Altamont.&nbsp; The car traveled off the north side of the road, returned to the road and the driver overcorrected. The traveled off the south side of the road down an embankment. It struck a fence and a tree.

EMS transported the driver and a 39-year-old passenger from Iowa to Liberty Hospital. The passenger was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DAVIESS COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 11:30a.m. Saturday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Toyota Camry driven by a 41-year-old Gallatin woman was westbound on MO 6 one mile east of Altamont.&nbsp; The car traveled off the north side of the road, returned to the road and the driver overcorrected. The traveled off the south side of the road down an embankment. It struck a fence and a tree.EMS transported the driver and a 39-year-old passenger from Iowa to Liberty Hospital. The passenger was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

2 hospitalized after violent crash down embankment

HOLT COUNTY —A Missouri was injured and arrested after an accident that occurred just after 3a.m. Friday in Holt County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1992 Ford Ranger driven by 21-year-old Carter J. Holecek of Mound City was southbound on U.S. 59 at Adobe Road three miles north of Craig. The driver failed to yield&nbsp;to a road closure and the pickup struck a bridge under construction.

Atchison-Holt Ambulance transported the Holeck to Mosaic Life Care. He was arresed on requested charges of DWI, failure to maintain right half of the road, driving on a closed road, failure to display valid plates and for no seat belt.

HOLT COUNTY —A Missouri was injured and arrested after an accident that occurred just after 3a.m. Friday in Holt County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1992 Ford Ranger driven by 21-year-old Carter J. Holecek of Mound City was southbound on U.S. 59 at Adobe Road three miles north of Craig. The driver failed to yield&nbsp;to a road closure and the pickup struck a bridge under construction.Atchison-Holt Ambulance transported the Holeck to Mosaic Life Care. He was arresed on requested charges of DWI, failure to maintain right half of the road, driving on a closed road, failure to display valid plates and for no seat belt.

Mo. man accused of DWI after crash on closed road

CALDWELL COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Friday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Can-Am ATV driven by an 18-year-old Independence woman was southbound&nbsp; down a hill in a field on NE Pleasant RIdge Road one mile south of New York Township.

The driver lost control of the vehicle. The driver and two passengers were ejected. A private vehicle transported the teen driver a 14-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl, both from Sugar Creek, to Cameron Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; The MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims.

CALDWELL COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Friday in Caldwell County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Can-Am ATV driven by an 18-year-old Independence woman was southbound&nbsp; down a hill in a field on NE Pleasant RIdge Road one mile south of New York Township.The driver lost control of the vehicle. The driver and two passengers were ejected. A private vehicle transported the teen driver a 14-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl, both from Sugar Creek, to Cameron Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; The MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims.___

18-year-old, 2 juveniles hospitalized after ATV accident

BUCHANAN COUNTY —Three people were injured in an accident just after 11p.m. Thursday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 2006 Chrysler Town &amp; Country driven by a 51-year-old St. Joseph&nbsp; woman and a 2015 Kawasaki UTV driven by a 54-year-old St. Joseph man were northbound on Pigeon Hill Road approaching 40th Road SE five miles south of St.&nbsp; Joseph.

The van rear-ended the UTV. After impact the UTV traveled off the east side of the road, returned to the road and overturned.

Buchanan County EMS transported the UTV driver, a 42-year-old woman, a 7-year-old girl, both passengers on the UTV to Mosaic Life Care. A third passenger on the UTV was checked at the scene by Andrew County EMS&nbsp; and releases. The van driver was not injured. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

BUCHANAN COUNTY —Three people were injured in an accident just after 11p.m. Thursday in Buchanan County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 2006 Chrysler Town &amp; Country driven by a 51-year-old St. Joseph&nbsp; woman and a 2015 Kawasaki UTV driven by a 54-year-old St. Joseph man were northbound on Pigeon Hill Road approaching 40th Road SE five miles south of St.&nbsp; Joseph.The van rear-ended the UTV. After impact the UTV traveled off the east side of the road, returned to the road and overturned.Buchanan County EMS transported the UTV driver, a 42-year-old woman, a 7-year-old girl, both passengers on the UTV to Mosaic Life Care. A third passenger on the UTV was checked at the scene by Andrew County EMS&nbsp; and releases. The van driver was not injured. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

2 adults, 7-year-old hospitalized after van rear-ends UTV

Keep safety top of mind this Independence
Day holiday weekend.

National Fireworks Association President,
Stacy Schneitter-Blake of St. Joseph, says those who sell fireworks urge their
customers to be safe as they celebrate.

“We always want to make sure that people that
are using fireworks for their celebration are taking the correct safety
measures,” Schneitter-Balke tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Schneitter-Blake with Schneitter
Fireworks and Importers says just a few steps will ensure your celebration
remains safe.

“We always want to make sure you’re
buying from a reputable company. Always have water handy. Make sure to brace
your cakes, your fountains, definitely your mortar shells,” Schneitter-Blake
says. “We want to make sure that people are celebrating safely this 4th
of July season.”

A couple of websites have safety tips as
well:&nbsp; the National Fireworks Association
website as well as the website maintained by the American Pyrotechnics Safety
and Education Foundation.

Click <a href="https://www.nationalfireworks.com/safety-resources">HERE</a> for the National Fireworks
Association safety tips.

Click <a href="https://www.celebratesafely.org/safety-resources">HERE</a> for by the American
Pyrotechnics Safety and Education Foundation safety tips.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostKeep safety top of mind this Independence
Day holiday weekend.National Fireworks Association President,
Stacy Schneitter-Blake of St. Joseph, says those who sell fireworks urge their
customers to be safe as they celebrate.“We always want to make sure that people that
are using fireworks for their celebration are taking the correct safety
measures,” Schneitter-Balke tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.Schneitter-Blake with Schneitter
Fireworks and Importers says just a few steps will ensure your celebration
remains safe.“We always want to make sure you’re
buying from a reputable company. Always have water handy. Make sure to brace
your cakes, your fountains, definitely your mortar shells,” Schneitter-Blake
says. “We want to make sure that people are celebrating safely this 4th
of July season.”A couple of websites have safety tips as
well:&nbsp; the National Fireworks Association
website as well as the website maintained by the American Pyrotechnics Safety
and Education Foundation.Click <a href="https://www.nationalfireworks.com/safety-resources">HERE</a> for the National Fireworks
Association safety tips.Click <a href="https://www.celebratesafely.org/safety-resources">HERE</a> for by the American
Pyrotechnics Safety and Education Foundation safety tips.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Keep safe this Independence Day holiday

ANDREW COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 7p.m. Thursday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander driven by a 31-year-old St. Joseph woman was eastbound on U.S. 59 in Country Club. The driver failed to stop at the posted stop sign at Business 29 and yield to oncoming traffic.&nbsp;

The SUV entered the southbound lanes of Business 29 and a southbound 2015 Ford Explorer driven by a 32-year-old Mound City man struck the Outlander.

Andrew County EMS transported the driver of the Ford and his passenger to Mosaic Life Care. They were both properly restrained, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; The driver of the Outlander was not injured. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

ANDREW COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 7p.m. Thursday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander driven by a 31-year-old St. Joseph woman was eastbound on U.S. 59 in Country Club. The driver failed to stop at the posted stop sign at Business 29 and yield to oncoming traffic.&nbsp;The SUV entered the southbound lanes of Business 29 and a southbound 2015 Ford Explorer driven by a 32-year-old Mound City man struck the Outlander.Andrew County EMS transported the driver of the Ford and his passenger to Mosaic Life Care. They were both properly restrained, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; The driver of the Outlander was not injured. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man, woman injured after SUVs collide 

HARRISON COUNTY —Five people were injured in accident just before 11p.m. Wednesday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 GMC Yukon driven by a 39-year-old St. Joseph man was southbound on Interstate 35 four miles north of Bethany.&nbsp;

The SUV traveled off the left side of the road into the median. It struck a&nbsp; drain field, became airborne and rolled.

Life Flight Eagle transported the driver to Truman Medical Center.&nbsp; NTA EMS transported a 28-year-old female passenger of St. Joseph to Truman Medical Center. NTA ambulance also transported an 8-year-old girl,&nbsp; a 3-year-old girl and an infant girl to Harrison County. Community Hospital. All five were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

HARRISON COUNTY —Five people were injured in accident just before 11p.m. Wednesday in Harrison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 GMC Yukon driven by a 39-year-old St. Joseph man was southbound on Interstate 35 four miles north of Bethany.&nbsp;The SUV traveled off the left side of the road into the median. It struck a&nbsp; drain field, became airborne and rolled.Life Flight Eagle transported the driver to Truman Medical Center.&nbsp; NTA EMS transported a 28-year-old female passenger of St. Joseph to Truman Medical Center. NTA ambulance also transported an 8-year-old girl,&nbsp; a 3-year-old girl and an infant girl to Harrison County. Community Hospital. All five were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

2 adults, 3 children from St. Joe injured in SUV rollover crash

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect&nbsp; for an alleged violent crime.

Shortly before 10:30a.m. on Tuesday officers responded to a residence in the 600 block South 7th Street where a person was on the premises who had previously been trespassed from that property, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

 When officers arrived it was determined that the subject, identified as 37-year-old Jeffery E. Walker of Atchison, had threatened great bodily harm to a 57-year-old woman at the residence with a knife. 

Jeffery Walker was located on the property and taken into custody on requested charges of criminal trespass and aggravated assault and taken to the County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751464422887.png" alt="Walker photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Walker photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect&nbsp; for an alleged violent crime.Shortly before 10:30a.m. on Tuesday officers responded to a residence in the 600 block South 7th Street where a person was on the premises who had previously been trespassed from that property, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. When officers arrived it was determined that the subject, identified as 37-year-old Jeffery E. Walker of Atchison, had threatened great bodily harm to a 57-year-old woman at the residence with a knife. Jeffery Walker was located on the property and taken into custody on requested charges of criminal trespass and aggravated assault and taken to the County Jail.

Police: Kan. man threatened woman with a knife

The Missouri National Education Association hopes to stop the use of the state’s general revenue to fund private school scholarships

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hanshaw</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

The Missouri National Education Association is suing the state in an effort to block the appropriation of $51 million to MOScholars, the state’s K-12 scholarship program.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Verified%20Petition%20for%20Declaratory%20Judgment%20and%20Injunctive%20Relief.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3602182" target="_blank">lawsuit filed in Cole County Circuit Court Monday</a>, MNEA argues that state funds cannot be directly given to MOScholars under the current statute.

MNEA vice president Rebeka McIntosh and member Kimberly Duvall, who serves as president of the Blue Springs chapter of the National Education Association, are suing on behalf of the organization’s 30,000 members.

“The General Assembly has far overstepped its authority and violated five provisions of the Missouri Constitution by using an appropriations bill to construct out of whole cloth a scheme to divert general revenues to what are essentially vouchers for the payment of private school tuition for elementary and secondary school students,” MNEA’s attorney Loretta Haggard wrote.

MOScholars currently operates using nonprofits dubbed “educational assistance organizations” to gather donations and distribute scholarships to students in private, parochial or home schools. Donors can receive a tax credit equal to 100% of their contribution but can use it to cover no more than half of their state tax liability.&nbsp;

State law allows 4% of donations to be reserved to cover the costs of administering the program, including marketing.

But the budget passed by the lawmakers&nbsp; “dramatically changes the landscape,” Haggard contends.

The budget signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe Monday includes an injection of general revenue to the MOScholars program, budgeting $50 million for scholarships and $1 million to assist marketing the program.

This, MNEA argues, breaks state law for multiple reasons.

The 2021 law that created MOScholars prescribes the use of tax-deductible donations to educational assistance organizations (EAOs), not general revenue, as a funding source.

“The money for (MOScholars) scholarships comes from donations that taxpayers make to EAOs, and EAOs then remit to families. The donated funds never come into the custody of the state, and the state does not select scholarship recipients,” Haggard wrote.

The direct appropriation to the program effectively amends the MOScholars statute, the lawsuit says, which violates laws requiring legislative authorization and limits bills to a single subject. Changing statute in a budget bill is not allowed.

The money would have to flow through a fund overseen by the State Treasurer’s Office which currently does not hold scholarship money. The fund is “to be used by the state treasurer for marketing and administrative expenses or the costs incurred in administering the program, whichever is less,” according to&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=135.715" target="_blank">state law</a>.

Using the fund to administer scholarships is “unauthorized,” the lawsuit says.

MNEA is asking for a preliminary injunction, which would block the $51 million appropriation from being transferred to the MOScholars fund while litigation ensues.

“Once the unlawful appropriations are disbursed to private entities or individuals, it will be difficult if not impossible to claw those funds back to the treasury where they belong,” the lawsuit says.

MNEA argues that the money, if given to MOScholars, would hurt public education statewide.

“Politicians in Jefferson City and their privatization lobbyists are stealing from our kids,” said Missouri NEA President Phil Murray. “In rural Missouri, that $51 million means losing our music teacher, canceling basketball, and watching our schools crumble. They’re killing our small towns.”

Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek, in an interview with The Independent in May, addressed the possibility of a lawsuit.

“We will deal with it when that happens,” he said. “I cannot predict which course it will take.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719493597787.png" alt="The Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption>The Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Missouri National Education Association hopes to stop the use of the state’s general revenue to fund private school scholarships</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hanshaw</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The Missouri National Education Association is suing the state in an effort to block the appropriation of $51 million to MOScholars, the state’s K-12 scholarship program.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Verified%20Petition%20for%20Declaratory%20Judgment%20and%20Injunctive%20Relief.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3602182" target="_blank">lawsuit filed in Cole County Circuit Court Monday</a>, MNEA argues that state funds cannot be directly given to MOScholars under the current statute.MNEA vice president Rebeka McIntosh and member Kimberly Duvall, who serves as president of the Blue Springs chapter of the National Education Association, are suing on behalf of the organization’s 30,000 members.“The General Assembly has far overstepped its authority and violated five provisions of the Missouri Constitution by using an appropriations bill to construct out of whole cloth a scheme to divert general revenues to what are essentially vouchers for the payment of private school tuition for elementary and secondary school students,” MNEA’s attorney Loretta Haggard wrote.MOScholars currently operates using nonprofits dubbed “educational assistance organizations” to gather donations and distribute scholarships to students in private, parochial or home schools. Donors can receive a tax credit equal to 100% of their contribution but can use it to cover no more than half of their state tax liability.&nbsp;State law allows 4% of donations to be reserved to cover the costs of administering the program, including marketing.But the budget passed by the lawmakers&nbsp; “dramatically changes the landscape,” Haggard contends.The budget signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe Monday includes an injection of general revenue to the MOScholars program, budgeting $50 million for scholarships and $1 million to assist marketing the program.This, MNEA argues, breaks state law for multiple reasons.The 2021 law that created MOScholars prescribes the use of tax-deductible donations to educational assistance organizations (EAOs), not general revenue, as a funding source.“The money for (MOScholars) scholarships comes from donations that taxpayers make to EAOs, and EAOs then remit to families. The donated funds never come into the custody of the state, and the state does not select scholarship recipients,” Haggard wrote.The direct appropriation to the program effectively amends the MOScholars statute, the lawsuit says, which violates laws requiring legislative authorization and limits bills to a single subject. Changing statute in a budget bill is not allowed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751451315710.png" alt="State Treasurer Vivek Malek speaks during the Disability Advocacy Day rally in the Missouri State Capitol Wednesday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>State Treasurer Vivek Malek speaks during the Disability Advocacy Day rally in the Missouri State Capitol Wednesday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>The money would have to flow through a fund overseen by the State Treasurer’s Office which currently does not hold scholarship money. The fund is “to be used by the state treasurer for marketing and administrative expenses or the costs incurred in administering the program, whichever is less,” according to&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=135.715" target="_blank">state law</a>.Using the fund to administer scholarships is “unauthorized,” the lawsuit says.MNEA is asking for a preliminary injunction, which would block the $51 million appropriation from being transferred to the MOScholars fund while litigation ensues.“Once the unlawful appropriations are disbursed to private entities or individuals, it will be difficult if not impossible to claw those funds back to the treasury where they belong,” the lawsuit says.MNEA argues that the money, if given to MOScholars, would hurt public education statewide.“Politicians in Jefferson City and their privatization lobbyists are stealing from our kids,” said Missouri NEA President Phil Murray. “In rural Missouri, that $51 million means losing our music teacher, canceling basketball, and watching our schools crumble. They’re killing our small towns.”Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek, in an interview with The Independent in May, addressed the possibility of a lawsuit.“We will deal with it when that happens,” he said. “I cannot predict which course it will take.”

Missouri educators sue state over $51 million appropriation to private school vouchers

The St. Joseph Mustangs will celebrate the Fourth of July all weekend long, starting early with Thursday with three days of fireworks extravaganzas at Phil Welch Stadium.  

General Manager and Owner Ky Turner says playing at a stadium within a community, it's unique to play at Phil Welch on the Fourth of July 

"Here's a ballpark and there's houses all around us, well what do those houses do around that holiday? They shoot off fireworks too, so it's really kind of like a 360 of fireworks when you're sitting there watching a baseball game," Turner says on the KFEQmunnity show.  "You know, they talk about the batter's eye and being able to pay attention to that pitch, I don't know how you do that when you've got fireworks going off all around you, but it makes for a great show for us in the stands." 

Fireworks extravaganza will highlight the end of each Mustangs home game during the holiday. Turner says there are also some other fun things going on as well 

"On the 3rd we are hosting Sluggerrr from the Kansas City Royals and Fredbird, thanks to Eagle Radio, from the St. Louis Cardinals, they'll be there for a meet and greet, we'll have pregame skydivers, notice I didn't say Sluggerrr and Fredbird are skydiving but they will be there," Turner says.  "And then the 4th we have a Mr. and Miss Mustangs competition which is a blast." 

On Saturday the 5th, the Mustangs will also honor area fire, police, and EMT personnel.  The pregame police versus fire softball game will also be held on that day.

Turner says the games will also be an opportunity to thank some of our nation’s heroes 

"On the 3rd all veterans and active military receive two free general admission tickets, we're going to honor some local military heroes for pregame that night, and then on the 4th all retired and active military can get two free party deck tickets, we do encourage people to reserve those in advance as they can sell out," Turner explains.  "But we're here to celebrate and honor America playing America's game, you know America's pastime is baseball, we've got fireworks, of course we've got the hot dogs." 

The Mustangs kick off things on Thursday against the Chillicothe Mudcats.  All games over the holiday begin at 7pm.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751389450759.jpeg" alt="The St. Joseph Mustangs will celebrate the Fourth of July holiday for three consecutive days at Phil Welch Stadium, starting on Thursday and going through Saturday/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Mustangs Facebook" />
 <figcaption>The St. Joseph Mustangs will celebrate the Fourth of July holiday for three consecutive days at Phil Welch Stadium, starting on Thursday and going through Saturday/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Mustangs Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE The St. Joseph Mustangs will celebrate the Fourth of July all weekend long, starting early with Thursday with three days of fireworks extravaganzas at Phil Welch Stadium. General Manager and Owner Ky Turner says playing at a stadium within a community, it's unique to play at Phil Welch on the Fourth of July "Here's a ballpark and there's houses all around us, well what do those houses do around that holiday? They shoot off fireworks too, so it's really kind of like a 360 of fireworks when you're sitting there watching a baseball game," Turner says on the KFEQmunnity show. "You know, they talk about the batter's eye and being able to pay attention to that pitch, I don't know how you do that when you've got fireworks going off all around you, but it makes for a great show for us in the stands." Fireworks extravaganza will highlight the end of each Mustangs home game during the holiday. Turner says there are also some other fun things going on as well "On the 3rd we are hosting Sluggerrr from the Kansas City Royals and Fredbird, thanks to Eagle Radio, from the St. Louis Cardinals, they'll be there for a meet and greet, we'll have pregame skydivers, notice I didn't say Sluggerrr and Fredbird are skydiving but they will be there," Turner says. "And then the 4th we have a Mr. and Miss Mustangs competition which is a blast." On Saturday the 5th, the Mustangs will also honor area fire, police, and EMT personnel. The pregame police versus fire softball game will also be held on that day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751389710599.jpeg" alt="Fireworks over Phil Welch Stadium/ Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Mustangs" />
 <figcaption>Fireworks over Phil Welch Stadium/ Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Mustangs</figcaption>
 </figure>Turner says the games will also be an opportunity to thank some of our nation’s heroes "On the 3rd all veterans and active military receive two free general admission tickets, we're going to honor some local military heroes for pregame that night, and then on the 4th all retired and active military can get two free party deck tickets, we do encourage people to reserve those in advance as they can sell out," Turner explains. "But we're here to celebrate and honor America playing America's game, you know America's pastime is baseball, we've got fireworks, of course we've got the hot dogs." The Mustangs kick off things on Thursday against the Chillicothe Mudcats. All games over the holiday begin at 7pm.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoemustangs%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0vfXmb8aPfutw5FibuSVnV7UZFJGDSzWwDpukgp2jgASDzmNFAbViXo7fugNFJJral&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="730" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Celebrate Fourth of July with the St. Joseph Mustangs 

There should be
plenty of fireworks and prices shouldn’t be too much higher than last year,
despite the trade war between the United States and China.

That, according to
Stacy Schneitter-Blake with Schneitters Fireworks and Importers of St. Joseph.
Schneitter-Blake, the president of the National Fireworks Association, says
nearly all the fireworks we shoot off this Independence Day are imported.

“For the consumer
fireworks it’s 95 to 99% comes from China,” Schneitter-Blake tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post.

Schneitter-Blake
says most fireworks stands bought their fireworks early, before tariffs drove
up the price. Fireworks wholesalers and retailers didn’t have to worry much
about tariffs in the past. Schneitter-Blake says federal policy exempted
fireworks from tariffs until 2019. Now, fireworks are in the thick of trade
talks, especially this time of year.

Schneitter-Blake
says she hasn’t seen a big impact on National Fireworks Association members
this year.

“What I’m seeing
right now, the prices are very similar as they have been in the past years,” Schneitter-Blake
says. “They might have some, you know, maybe a little, slight difference in
price.”

“We did leave some
product in China,” according to Schneitter-Blake. “We have a lot of fireworks
here, but I would encourage people to shop early in case there are certain
items that we might be limited on.”

Schneitter-Blake
says some fireworks manufacturers in China had to shut down production. They
don’t have warehouse space and increasingly higher tariffs dampened demand from
America. A 10% tariff early in the year quickly doubled and as the trade war
escalated, tariffs on goods from China soared to 145% at one time.

Schneitter-Blake does
advise consumers to shop early for their fireworks this Independence Day
holiday. She says fireworks stands might be short on some items. Still, she
doesn’t see much of an interruption to the celebrations this year.

“So, going into
the 2026 season, we’re a little more leery about what that might happen to for
next year, going into the 250th, semiquincentennial of our country,”
Schneitter-Blake says.

The concern for
next year is heightened by the approaching 250th anniversary
celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

“My concerns right
now are going into 2026,” Schneitter-Blake says. “Next year, for the
semiquincentennial, the 4th of July lands on a Saturday. It’s kind
of the perfect storm for a 250th anniversary of our country landing on
a Saturday as well, on a weekend.”

Schneitter-Blake
says the National Fireworks Association and the American Pyrotechnics
Association are working together to lobby the federal government to once again exempt
fireworks from tariffs.

Schneitters
Fireworks and Importers is a retail, wholesale company that supplies fireworks
to many companies that put on fireworks displays. It is celebrating its 130th
anniversary. Schneitter-Blake says her parents and grandparents were founding
members of the National Fireworks Association to have more of a say in federal policy.
Schneitter-Blake has made several trips to Washington, D.C. to lobby for
association members.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostThere should be
plenty of fireworks and prices shouldn’t be too much higher than last year,
despite the trade war between the United States and China.That, according to
Stacy Schneitter-Blake with Schneitters Fireworks and Importers of St. Joseph.
Schneitter-Blake, the president of the National Fireworks Association, says
nearly all the fireworks we shoot off this Independence Day are imported.“For the consumer
fireworks it’s 95 to 99% comes from China,” Schneitter-Blake tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post.Schneitter-Blake
says most fireworks stands bought their fireworks early, before tariffs drove
up the price. Fireworks wholesalers and retailers didn’t have to worry much
about tariffs in the past. Schneitter-Blake says federal policy exempted
fireworks from tariffs until 2019. Now, fireworks are in the thick of trade
talks, especially this time of year.Schneitter-Blake
says she hasn’t seen a big impact on National Fireworks Association members
this year.“What I’m seeing
right now, the prices are very similar as they have been in the past years,” Schneitter-Blake
says. “They might have some, you know, maybe a little, slight difference in
price.”Supply might be a
different story.“We did leave some
product in China,” according to Schneitter-Blake. “We have a lot of fireworks
here, but I would encourage people to shop early in case there are certain
items that we might be limited on.”Schneitter-Blake
says some fireworks manufacturers in China had to shut down production. They
don’t have warehouse space and increasingly higher tariffs dampened demand from
America. A 10% tariff early in the year quickly doubled and as the trade war
escalated, tariffs on goods from China soared to 145% at one time.Schneitter-Blake does
advise consumers to shop early for their fireworks this Independence Day
holiday. She says fireworks stands might be short on some items. Still, she
doesn’t see much of an interruption to the celebrations this year.Next year could be
a different story.“So, going into
the 2026 season, we’re a little more leery about what that might happen to for
next year, going into the 250th, semiquincentennial of our country,”
Schneitter-Blake says.The concern for
next year is heightened by the approaching 250th anniversary
celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.“My concerns right
now are going into 2026,” Schneitter-Blake says. “Next year, for the
semiquincentennial, the 4th of July lands on a Saturday. It’s kind
of the perfect storm for a 250th anniversary of our country landing on
a Saturday as well, on a weekend.”Schneitter-Blake
says the National Fireworks Association and the American Pyrotechnics
Association are working together to lobby the federal government to once again exempt
fireworks from tariffs.Schneitters
Fireworks and Importers is a retail, wholesale company that supplies fireworks
to many companies that put on fireworks displays. It is celebrating its 130th
anniversary. Schneitter-Blake says her parents and grandparents were founding
members of the National Fireworks Association to have more of a say in federal policy.
Schneitter-Blake has made several trips to Washington, D.C. to lobby for
association members.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Trade war with China shouldn't affect your 4th celebration, at least not much

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Shortly before 2:30 a.m. Saturday, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on U.S. Highway 75, near 126th Road for an alleged traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. 

The driver, Tim Wurzbacher, 37, of Atchison, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail&nbsp; on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751298708768.png" alt="Wurzbacher photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Wurzbacher photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Shortly before 2:30 a.m. Saturday, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on U.S. Highway 75, near 126th Road for an alleged traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The driver, Tim Wurzbacher, 37, of Atchison, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail&nbsp; on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: NE Kansas man caught transporting meth

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">Jason Hancock</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hanshaw</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Hallsville, a town of about 2,000 people northeast of Columbia, was peppered with homemade purple and gold “Yes on Prop 2” signs adorning front lawns early this spring.

The Hallsville School District was asking for a $6.5 million bond issue to finance more parking for the growing high school, a new elementary classroom and increased security for schools. And on April 8,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.showmeboone.com/clerk/elections/results/20250408SGM.pdf" target="_blank">nearly 75% of voters</a>&nbsp;approved the measure, and the district launched pre-construction and design work.

But the project came to a halt the afternoon of June 6 when Superintendent Tyler Walker learned the district hadn’t met public-notice requirements before the election. So their bond counsel, the law firm Gilmore &amp; Bell, couldn’t submit the bond issue for certification to the Missouri State Auditor’s Office.

“This was not the fault of the school district,” Walker told The Independent, “yet the school district and the students we educate are unfortunately being punished.”

Hallsville is the only school district to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/k12_education/voters-approve-hallsville-school-bond-issue-but-state-auditor-says-no/article_d4619f98-a255-4bda-a630-61dca5fa6015.html" target="_blank">publicly acknowledge</a>&nbsp;issues with its bond measure, but there could be as many as 10 political subdivisions forced to throw out the results of the April election.

Mark Grimm, an attorney with Gilmore &amp; Bell, said in a June 3 email to the auditor’s office that eight to 10 of his firm’s clients may need to put voter-approved bonds back on the ballot because they appear to have fallen short of&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.127" target="_blank">the state law laying out public notice requirements in the run up to an election</a>.&nbsp;

Notice of a bond issue must be published in local newspapers twice — once two weeks prior to the election and again within one week of the election. In each instance, Grimm wrote, notice ran three and two weeks before the election.

Exactly which bond measures are in jeopardy isn’t clear. The firm couldn’t comment on specifics about its clients, and the auditor’s office — which must certify that local bond measures comply with state law — was not provided with a list.

In an interview with The Independent, Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said the state law is clear. The last thing he wanted to do was disqualify a voter-approved measure, Fitzpatrick said, but his hands are tied because public notice requirements are very specific and allow no flexibility.&nbsp;

“If we’re aware of the deficiency,” he said “we can’t knowingly certify that the bonds comply with all the laws.”

Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Shell Knob, acknowledged similar issues with public notice have gone undetected over the years. In fact, an $8.5 million bond measure for the Centralia R-VI School District, Hallsville’s neighbor to the northeast, was certified with similar problems.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The office has historically relied on bond attorneys like Gilmore &amp; Bell, Fitzpatrick said, to ensure their clients are in compliance with state laws before submitting paperwork for certification. While his staff ensures publication takes place, “it was not part of our process to closely check the dates of the publications.”

“There’s a level of trust that has been historically built into this process,” he said, “because this is a sporadic thing. It’s not something where we have a team of people sitting around all day and their only job is to review these bonds and check every single law.”

Bill Burns, general counsel for Gilmore &amp; Bell, doesn’t agree with the auditor’s position. He believes Missouri law gives Fitzpatrick enough wiggle room to certify voter-approved bonds despite “minor deficiencies relating to publication notices that would not in any way affect the outcome of the election.”

But Fitzpatrick said the law firm should have been on the lookout for these sorts of problems after a dust up in February involving the Higbee Fire Protection District — another Gilmore &amp; Bell client — resulted in a bond measure being refused certification over similar issues.&nbsp;

“I am surprised that we’re dealing with this now,” he said. “I would expect that bond counsel will be more proactive and communicate with the county clerk on these deals moving forward to make sure the publication dates are where they need to be. But I would have also thought that following the February deal.”

Over the course of two elections last year, voters in Randolph County approved $1.6 million in bonds to support the Higbee Fire Protection District. It was only supposed to take one election, but the county clerk put the wrong total on the August ballot, requiring the rest of the bonds to be approved in November.&nbsp;

By February, all that was left for the bonds to finally be issued was the certification of the auditor’s office.

Fitzpatrick’s staff kept asking for a copy of the sample ballot that was published in the newspaper prior to the election. Erick Creach, an attorney with Gilmore &amp; Bell representing the district, instead sent affidavits attesting that the county clerk published a sample ballot.

As it turns out, the reason Creach couldn’t share a copy of the sample ballot was because it was never published as required by law.&nbsp;

“Erick called first thing this morning,” wrote Leslie Korte, general counsel for the auditor’s office, in a Feb. 26 email obtained by The Independent through Missouri’s Sunshine Law. “He admitted that despite their prior representations and the certification of the clerk, they in fact did not publish the notice as required. For any election. He basically wanted us to let that slide.”

Korte wrote that she informed Creach that the auditor “cannot certify a bond that we know does not comply with state law.”

“I also addressed the secondary issue, which is Gilmore &amp; Bell sending us documents certifying to facts that are not true, and him providing us documents yesterday afternoon identifying them as something they are not,” she wrote. “I told him all bond packages we receive from them going forward will be under heightened scrutiny, and if anything like this happens again, how it is addressed by our office will be escalated.”

Creach responded later that day reiterating that sharing the affidavits wasn’t an attempt to fool anyone but rather to “keep your office updated as I was piecing together the information, which to your point should have been addressed prior to submission of the transcript in the first place.”

The firm, Creach wrote, will “have a call today internally to discuss best practices regarding&nbsp;submission of transcripts and review of documentation to ensure this doesn’t happen in the future.”

Fitzpatrick said in an interview this week that Gilmore &amp; Bell “kind of intended to mislead us on that one, and we were unable to certify those bonds because no publication took place.”

In May, the auditor’s office refused to certify bonds for the Brookfield R-III School District in Linn County, again due to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kttn.com/clerical-mistake-halts-school-bond-approvals-in-brookfield-and-meadville-school-districts/" target="_blank">public notice deficiencies</a>.&nbsp;

Though the school district was not a Gilmore &amp; Bell client, the firm took note and decided it would “submit certain hypothetical fact situations” to the auditor in the hopes of clarifying what could disqualify a bond measure, said Burns, the firm’s general counsel.&nbsp;

One of the hypotheticals the firm submitted was publication three weeks and two weeks before the election. The auditor’s office confirmed it would not certify under those circumstances.&nbsp;

Grim responded that “we believe there are 8-10 bond elections from April for political subdivisions we represent where the election authority complied with all publication requirements except the publications fell slightly outside of the two week/one week provision.”

“While we definitely agree that good public policy is to ensure compliance with election laws,” Grimm wrote, “failing to register bonds due to election law technicalities has the result of effectively annulling an election.”

He requested the auditor’s office consider certifying bonds regardless of the public notice issue, with the understanding that “going forward, no such grace will be provided.” And he noted the auditor’s office had just certified a bond for one of the firm’s other clients, Centralia, that had the exact same deficiencies.&nbsp;

Korte responded in a June 4 email that for Centralia, the auditor’s office “relied on the representation of bond counsel that the bonds complied with all state laws, including state law that dictates when those publications must take place.”

Given the number of state laws that exist to cover the issuance of bonds, Korte wrote, it would not be surprising if over the years a bond was certified “despite having an unknown or undisclosed legal defect.”

“That should never be taken as a tacit approval of any failure to comply with state law,” she wrote. “If anything, it should be used by bond counsel as a cautionary tale causing them to double down on their efforts to ensure they are monitoring their clients’ bonds and advising on how to issue bonds in full compliance.”

Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon, who oversees elections including publishing notices,&nbsp; told The Independent that her office intentionally chose to publish sample ballots three and two weeks before the election.

“We have tried, especially this past time, to make sure that we have some (safeguard),” she said. “So if there is a mistake that’s made in one of the weekly papers, we still have a grace period to be able to publish.”

A changing newspaper industry has made it harder to publish sample ballots. After a local paper was bought by a large corporation, Lennon’s office struggled to get edits made of notices and receive proofs prior to printing.

Lennon didn’t think her notice strategy would run into statutory issues, since the heart of the law is to ensure voters are informed. Her office goes beyond the law’s requirements and sends sample ballots in the mail to voters and posts them online in advance of all elections.

Hallsville plans on resubmitting the bond issue for November’s election, which Walker estimates will cost the district “between $10,000 and $20,000.” Until the issue is funded and approved by the state, no payment is due to Gilmore &amp; Bell.

The cost of delaying construction isn’t quantifiable, he said, and will cause “significant planning issues for the district,” with improvements critically needed.

“The safety and education of our students is of utmost importance to all of us in Hallsville,” he said.

Walker felt he had no reason to doubt the district’s bond counsel, since Hallsville previously passed three bond issues with Gilmore &amp; Bell’s assistance, and he knew the firm’s reputation as “one of the best.”

“Districts rely on bond counsel because the process to pass a bond issue and finance a successful issue is a complicated one,” he said. “It requires the assistance of a bond counsel to navigate the legal and financial complexities that are involved in the process from start to finish.”

Fitzpatrick said his office will begin requiring bond counsel to sign an affidavit when submitting paperwork for certification of a bond measure “basically saying that, to the best of their knowledge, all laws have been complied with.”

State lawmakers have also reached out to him, Fitzpatrick said, with interest in changing the public notice law when the legislature reconvenes in January. Burns said his firm agrees that the law needs to be adjusted.&nbsp;

“The main thing I think that really needs to be changed is becoming more lenient with the date of the publication,” Fitzpatrick said, adding: “There’s a lot of kind of antiquated aspects of it.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670081515655.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">Jason Hancock</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hanshaw</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Hallsville, a town of about 2,000 people northeast of Columbia, was peppered with homemade purple and gold “Yes on Prop 2” signs adorning front lawns early this spring.The Hallsville School District was asking for a $6.5 million bond issue to finance more parking for the growing high school, a new elementary classroom and increased security for schools. And on April 8,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.showmeboone.com/clerk/elections/results/20250408SGM.pdf" target="_blank">nearly 75% of voters</a>&nbsp;approved the measure, and the district launched pre-construction and design work.But the project came to a halt the afternoon of June 6 when Superintendent Tyler Walker learned the district hadn’t met public-notice requirements before the election. So their bond counsel, the law firm Gilmore &amp; Bell, couldn’t submit the bond issue for certification to the Missouri State Auditor’s Office.“This was not the fault of the school district,” Walker told The Independent, “yet the school district and the students we educate are unfortunately being punished.”Hallsville is the only school district to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/k12_education/voters-approve-hallsville-school-bond-issue-but-state-auditor-says-no/article_d4619f98-a255-4bda-a630-61dca5fa6015.html" target="_blank">publicly acknowledge</a>&nbsp;issues with its bond measure, but there could be as many as 10 political subdivisions forced to throw out the results of the April election.Mark Grimm, an attorney with Gilmore &amp; Bell, said in a June 3 email to the auditor’s office that eight to 10 of his firm’s clients may need to put voter-approved bonds back on the ballot because they appear to have fallen short of&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.127" target="_blank">the state law laying out public notice requirements in the run up to an election</a>.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751110830433.png" alt=" Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick speaks to reporters about a critical report of the Secretary of State’s office on Jan. 23, 2024 (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick speaks to reporters about a critical report of the Secretary of State’s office on Jan. 23, 2024 (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Notice of a bond issue must be published in local newspapers twice — once two weeks prior to the election and again within one week of the election. In each instance, Grimm wrote, notice ran three and two weeks before the election.Exactly which bond measures are in jeopardy isn’t clear. The firm couldn’t comment on specifics about its clients, and the auditor’s office — which must certify that local bond measures comply with state law — was not provided with a list.In an interview with The Independent, Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said the state law is clear. The last thing he wanted to do was disqualify a voter-approved measure, Fitzpatrick said, but his hands are tied because public notice requirements are very specific and allow no flexibility.&nbsp;“If we’re aware of the deficiency,” he said “we can’t knowingly certify that the bonds comply with all the laws.”Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Shell Knob, acknowledged similar issues with public notice have gone undetected over the years. In fact, an $8.5 million bond measure for the Centralia R-VI School District, Hallsville’s neighbor to the northeast, was certified with similar problems.&nbsp;&nbsp;The office has historically relied on bond attorneys like Gilmore &amp; Bell, Fitzpatrick said, to ensure their clients are in compliance with state laws before submitting paperwork for certification. While his staff ensures publication takes place, “it was not part of our process to closely check the dates of the publications.”“There’s a level of trust that has been historically built into this process,” he said, “because this is a sporadic thing. It’s not something where we have a team of people sitting around all day and their only job is to review these bonds and check every single law.”Bill Burns, general counsel for Gilmore &amp; Bell, doesn’t agree with the auditor’s position. He believes Missouri law gives Fitzpatrick enough wiggle room to certify voter-approved bonds despite “minor deficiencies relating to publication notices that would not in any way affect the outcome of the election.”But Fitzpatrick said the law firm should have been on the lookout for these sorts of problems after a dust up in February involving the Higbee Fire Protection District — another Gilmore &amp; Bell client — resulted in a bond measure being refused certification over similar issues.&nbsp;“I am surprised that we’re dealing with this now,” he said. “I would expect that bond counsel will be more proactive and communicate with the county clerk on these deals moving forward to make sure the publication dates are where they need to be. But I would have also thought that following the February deal.”<h2>Higbee Fire Protection District</h2>Over the course of two elections last year, voters in Randolph County approved $1.6 million in bonds to support the Higbee Fire Protection District. It was only supposed to take one election, but the county clerk put the wrong total on the August ballot, requiring the rest of the bonds to be approved in November.&nbsp;By February, all that was left for the bonds to finally be issued was the certification of the auditor’s office.And that’s where things went sideways.Fitzpatrick’s staff kept asking for a copy of the sample ballot that was published in the newspaper prior to the election. Erick Creach, an attorney with Gilmore &amp; Bell representing the district, instead sent affidavits attesting that the county clerk published a sample ballot.As it turns out, the reason Creach couldn’t share a copy of the sample ballot was because it was never published as required by law.&nbsp;“Erick called first thing this morning,” wrote Leslie Korte, general counsel for the auditor’s office, in a Feb. 26 email obtained by The Independent through Missouri’s Sunshine Law. “He admitted that despite their prior representations and the certification of the clerk, they in fact did not publish the notice as required. For any election. He basically wanted us to let that slide.”Korte wrote that she informed Creach that the auditor “cannot certify a bond that we know does not comply with state law.”“I also addressed the secondary issue, which is Gilmore &amp; Bell sending us documents certifying to facts that are not true, and him providing us documents yesterday afternoon identifying them as something they are not,” she wrote. “I told him all bond packages we receive from them going forward will be under heightened scrutiny, and if anything like this happens again, how it is addressed by our office will be escalated.”Creach responded later that day reiterating that sharing the affidavits wasn’t an attempt to fool anyone but rather to “keep your office updated as I was piecing together the information, which to your point should have been addressed prior to submission of the transcript in the first place.”The firm, Creach wrote, will “have a call today internally to discuss best practices regarding&nbsp;submission of transcripts and review of documentation to ensure this doesn’t happen in the future.”Fitzpatrick said in an interview this week that Gilmore &amp; Bell “kind of intended to mislead us on that one, and we were unable to certify those bonds because no publication took place.”<h2>Brookfield R-III School District</h2>In May, the auditor’s office refused to certify bonds for the Brookfield R-III School District in Linn County, again due to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kttn.com/clerical-mistake-halts-school-bond-approvals-in-brookfield-and-meadville-school-districts/" target="_blank">public notice deficiencies</a>.&nbsp;Though the school district was not a Gilmore &amp; Bell client, the firm took note and decided it would “submit certain hypothetical fact situations” to the auditor in the hopes of clarifying what could disqualify a bond measure, said Burns, the firm’s general counsel.&nbsp;One of the hypotheticals the firm submitted was publication three weeks and two weeks before the election. The auditor’s office confirmed it would not certify under those circumstances.&nbsp;Grim responded that “we believe there are 8-10 bond elections from April for political subdivisions we represent where the election authority complied with all publication requirements except the publications fell slightly outside of the two week/one week provision.”One of those was Hallsville.&nbsp;“While we definitely agree that good public policy is to ensure compliance with election laws,” Grimm wrote, “failing to register bonds due to election law technicalities has the result of effectively annulling an election.”He requested the auditor’s office consider certifying bonds regardless of the public notice issue, with the understanding that “going forward, no such grace will be provided.” And he noted the auditor’s office had just certified a bond for one of the firm’s other clients, Centralia, that had the exact same deficiencies.&nbsp;Korte responded in a June 4 email that for Centralia, the auditor’s office “relied on the representation of bond counsel that the bonds complied with all state laws, including state law that dictates when those publications must take place.”Given the number of state laws that exist to cover the issuance of bonds, Korte wrote, it would not be surprising if over the years a bond was certified “despite having an unknown or undisclosed legal defect.”“That should never be taken as a tacit approval of any failure to comply with state law,” she wrote. “If anything, it should be used by bond counsel as a cautionary tale causing them to double down on their efforts to ensure they are monitoring their clients’ bonds and advising on how to issue bonds in full compliance.”<h2>Hallsville School District</h2>Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon, who oversees elections including publishing notices,&nbsp; told The Independent that her office intentionally chose to publish sample ballots three and two weeks before the election.“We have tried, especially this past time, to make sure that we have some (safeguard),” she said. “So if there is a mistake that’s made in one of the weekly papers, we still have a grace period to be able to publish.”A changing newspaper industry has made it harder to publish sample ballots. After a local paper was bought by a large corporation, Lennon’s office struggled to get edits made of notices and receive proofs prior to printing.Lennon didn’t think her notice strategy would run into statutory issues, since the heart of the law is to ensure voters are informed. Her office goes beyond the law’s requirements and sends sample ballots in the mail to voters and posts them online in advance of all elections.Hallsville plans on resubmitting the bond issue for November’s election, which Walker estimates will cost the district “between $10,000 and $20,000.” Until the issue is funded and approved by the state, no payment is due to Gilmore &amp; Bell.The cost of delaying construction isn’t quantifiable, he said, and will cause “significant planning issues for the district,” with improvements critically needed.“The safety and education of our students is of utmost importance to all of us in Hallsville,” he said.Walker felt he had no reason to doubt the district’s bond counsel, since Hallsville previously passed three bond issues with Gilmore &amp; Bell’s assistance, and he knew the firm’s reputation as “one of the best.”“Districts rely on bond counsel because the process to pass a bond issue and finance a successful issue is a complicated one,” he said. “It requires the assistance of a bond counsel to navigate the legal and financial complexities that are involved in the process from start to finish.”Fitzpatrick said his office will begin requiring bond counsel to sign an affidavit when submitting paperwork for certification of a bond measure “basically saying that, to the best of their knowledge, all laws have been complied with.”State lawmakers have also reached out to him, Fitzpatrick said, with interest in changing the public notice law when the legislature reconvenes in January. Burns said his firm agrees that the law needs to be adjusted.&nbsp;“The main thing I think that really needs to be changed is becoming more lenient with the date of the publication,” Fitzpatrick said, adding: “There’s a lot of kind of antiquated aspects of it.”

Numerous voter-approved bonds in jeopardy for violating Missouri public notice law

A sweeping public safety bill that began with a focus on Missouri’s fireworks industry has officially become law.

Senate Bill 81, sponsored by Senator Curtis Gregory of Marshall, modernizes fireworks regulations in Missouri and includes a broad range of public safety updates. The legislation was signed into law and took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.

Senator Gregory emphasized Missouri’s national importance in the fireworks industry:

While Senate Bill 81 started with fireworks, the final version includes a variety of public safety provisions:

Senator Gregory says the bill reflects Missouri’s ongoing commitment to both economic strength and public safety, while bringing long-overdue updates to outdated state statutes.

The legislation is now in effect statewide.

A sweeping public safety bill that began with a focus on Missouri’s fireworks industry has officially become law.Senate Bill 81, sponsored by Senator Curtis Gregory of Marshall, modernizes fireworks regulations in Missouri and includes a broad range of public safety updates. The legislation was signed into law and took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.Senator Gregory emphasized Missouri’s national importance in the fireworks industry:<h2>Key Provisions Beyond Fireworks</h2>While Senate Bill 81 started with fireworks, the final version includes a variety of public safety provisions:<ul>
 <li>Extends the Line of Duty Compensation Act for fallen first responders by six more years.
</li><li>Updates criminal background check requirements for specific public safety roles.
</li><li>Modifies duties of the Missouri Emergency Response Commission, including coordination improvements.
</li><li>Expands licensing waivers for law enforcement officers and their spouses, aiding recruitment and relocation.
</li><li>Broadens the legal definition of childhood sexual abuse in civil court, enabling more survivors to seek damages for long-term effects of abuse.
</li>
 </ul>Senator Gregory says the bill reflects Missouri’s ongoing commitment to both economic strength and public safety, while bringing long-overdue updates to outdated state statutes.The legislation is now in effect statewide.

Senate Bill 81 Updates Missouri Fireworks Laws, Public Safety Measures

A treasured landmark in downtown Albany is closer to coming back to life.

The Rigney Theatre, once a community hub for movies, live performances, and public gatherings, has launched a 30-day fundraising campaign to raise $50,000—an amount that will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Patterson Family Foundation to support its long-awaited restoration.

The building has stood quiet for more than a decade, but supporters are hopeful that silence will soon be replaced with applause, music, and community spirit once again.

Linda Place, Board Member of Albany Community Development, says the theater holds a special place in the hearts of residents.

A treasured landmark in downtown Albany is closer to coming back to life.The Rigney Theatre, once a community hub for movies, live performances, and public gatherings, has launched a 30-day fundraising campaign to raise $50,000—an amount that will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Patterson Family Foundation to support its long-awaited restoration.The building has stood quiet for more than a decade, but supporters are hopeful that silence will soon be replaced with applause, music, and community spirit once again.Linda Place, Board Member of Albany Community Development, says the theater holds a special place in the hearts of residents.Donations can be made online through the Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri, or in person by cash or check. Thanks to the matching grant, each contribution will go twice as far, with every dollar donated matched up to the $50,000 goal.The campaign runs through July 15, and local leaders are optimistic that the community will rally around the cause.<h2>A Festival and a Visit</h2>This weekend offers the perfect opportunity to get a closer look at the historic building. Albany’s annual Rhythm n' Roots Festival takes place this Saturday, featuring live music, food vendors, and activities downtown—including a chance to see the Rigney Theatre in person.To make a donation or learn more about the project, visit <a href="http://therigney.org/match">therigney.org/match</a>.With community support and the matching grant in play, the Rigney may once again shine as a cultural and historic gem in Gentry County.

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